Article dispensing mechanism for vending machines



' July 22, 1958 G. w. WHITEHEADY 2,344,283

' ARTICLE DISPENSING MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINES Filed June 5, 1953.2 Sheets-Sheet l 32 Ii 6 George W. Whitehead INVENTOR. I

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

George W Whitehead -G. W; WHITEHEAD July-22, 1958 I ARTICLE DISPENSINGMECHANISM FOR VENDING'MACHINES Filed June 5, 1953 United States atentOfiice 2,844,283 Patented July 22, 1958 2,844,283 ARTICLE DISPENSINGMECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINES George W. Whitehead, Des Moines, IowaApplication June 5, 1953, Serial No. 359,930

4 Claims. (Cl. 22142) The present invention relates to a vending machineand more particularly relates to a mechanism for releasing anddispensing folded articles from the machine.

The, principal object of the invention is to provide a mechanism forextracting and dispensing saddle-bound books, magazines, programs andthe like from the bottom of a pile of such articles in a dispersingcontainer. In this connection, the mechanism may be utilized forcontinuous feeding of such articles for a timed production operation orfor utilization in a vending machine where the mechanism is driventhrough a finite cycle actuated by a coin mechanism.

Another object of the invention, ancillary to the preceding object, isthe provision of an article dispensing mechanism for folded articlesincluding a cylinder for rolling the bottom article from the pile actingin conjunction with cam urged fingers which swivel into engagement withthe folds of the article to assist in and positively assure theextraction ,of the article on the cylinder.

Yet another object of theinvention is to provide a mechanism of theabove described character including a pair of non-rotatable cam platesconstituting a portion of the mechanism and upon which the balance ofthe mechanism is rotatably journalled.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel means formoving the fold engaging fingers into and out of engagement with thefold of an article with a combination reciprocal and swivellingmovement.

These, together with various ancillary objects and features which willlater become apparent as the following description proceeds, areattained by this invention, a preferred embodiment of which is shown byway of example only in the accompanying drawings wherein: I

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the article dispensing mechanismmounted within a container with the container being shown with partsbroken away for clarity of detail;

v Figure 2 is a top' view of the dispensing mechanism takensubstantially along the plane of section line 2-2 of Figure l; p

Figure 3 is. an enlarged perspective View of the dispensing mechanismand the article container per se;

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along the planeof section line 44 of Figure l disclosing the manner of support of thearticles within the container;

Figure 5 is a sectional view similar to that of Figure 4 showing themovement of an article as it is dispensed by means of the mechanism; f

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail view 0f engagement of one of the fingersof the dispensing mechanism in the fold of an article to be dispensed; jFigure "7 is a perspective view of one of the'fingers per se;

Figure 8 is a cross sectional view of one of the cam plates constitutinga portion of the mechanism;

, Figure 9 is a top View of one of the cam plates disclosing thearrangement of the cam track thereon; and

Figure 10 is a top view of the mounting base for the article container.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, wherein likereference numerals are utilized to designate similar parts throughoutthe various views, attention is first directed to Figure 1 wherein avending machine is illustrated in its entirety by the numeral 10.

The vending machine 10 comprises a casing 12 having a front 14, sidewalls 16, bottom wall 18'and top 20. I

Mounted within the casing 12 is the article ejecting or dispensingmechanism 22 which constitutes the present invention. Although thismechanism is shown in the environment of a vending machine, it is to beunderstood that its utility is not so limited and that the mechanism 22is equally adaptable to industrial operations.

In the embodiment shown, brackets 24 are secured to the inner surfacesof the side walls and non-rotating cam plates 26 are rigidly fixed toeach set of brackets 24. A rotatable shaft 28 extends between the camplates 26 and is rotatably journalled in these plates. One end of theshaft 28 projects through a side wall 16 of the housing 12 and anoperating crank 30 isprovided for rotating the shaft. A suitable coinoperating mechanism 32 may be provided on the shaft 28 to operativelyconnectv the crank 30 to the shaft 28. p 1

Referring particularly to Figure 3, the construction of the articledispensing mechanism will be most clearly observed. Mounted centrally onthe shaft 28 is adrum or cylinder 34, which cylinder is fixed to theshaft for rotation therewith. Disposed above the cylinder.34 is anarticle container 36 which comprises essentially four upstanding anglemembers. Within the container 36 are a plurality of stacked foldedarticles such as magazines or books 38. A ledge 40 connects the tworearward corner posts to form a partial support on' the bottom of thecontainer for the articles 38 (Figure 4). Thus,the drum or cylinder 34forms a forward support for the lowermost article 38 within thecontainer and in eifect constitutes a portion of the bottom of thiscontainer. Guide plates 42 are secured to the ends of the cylinder 34and;are ofa slightly larger diameter than the cylinder 34. Each of theguide plates 42 is formed with a flat portion on its peripherydesignated by the numeral 44. A guide block46 is mounted on each of thefiat portions 44 in any suitable manner and is provided with atransverse slot 47. therethrough. A finger or blade 48 extends looselythrough each slot 47 whereby the same will bepermitted to freely swiveland slidethrough the-slot. As shown, the guide plates 42 are disposed onopposite sides of the container 36.

Noting Figure 7, the finger or blade 48 is beveled or I pointed at itsinner end as at 50 for ease of insertion between the folds of a foldedarticle 38 whereas a pair of longitudinally spaced guide rollers 52 aremounted on the undersurface of the finger adjacent the outer endthereof. These rollers 52 engage the cam track.54 on the cam plate 26. pI

The cam track 54 on each of the cam plates 26 constitutes a peripheralrim around the cam plate upon which the cam rollers 52. of the fingers48 are guided. Each track 54 includes a laterally offset portion 56whichiis disposed inwardly toward the guide plate 42. Diagonal joiningportions 58 join the ends of the laterally'offset portion 56 to the mainportion of the track- 54 of each cam plate 26.

- In the operation of the device, as the shaft 281- is turned,- the drum34 engaging the lowermost of one of the stacked articles 38 pulls thesame out of the bottom of the container 36. Also, as the shaft 28 isrotated,

34, during the dispensing operation.

so are the guide plates 42. Thus, the fingers or blades 48 riding on thecam tracks 54' will be first swivelled so their inner ends 50 aredisposed rearwardly of the ol edg of he a i le W ile e Po t 0 of thefingers are inserted between, the folds of the article- As h? p a es42'are continuously rotated, the blades 48 are projected into the foldsof the lowermost article and the swivelling action ceases as the rollers52 engage the laterally oifsetportion 56. During this stage of rotation,the lowermost article is rolled around the by'its'frictional' engagementwith the drum and is prevented fr'qm'slipping by the positive engagementof they inner ends of the blades, 4-8 with the folded edge of article.When this stage of the operation is terminated during the rotation ofthe shaft, the blades 48am again 'swivelled back away from the crease orfold lineof the folded article and withdrawn completely from the articleby engagement of the rollers 52 with the main portion of the tracks 54of the cam plates With this operation of the blades the blades areenabled to penerate the folded article a considerable distanee from theactual crease line of the article wherein the resistance to penetrationis the least. Also, and perhaps more important, with this swivellingaction, the blade is slipped into the article in such manner that theincidence'of ripping or tearing sheets of the article tob'e dispensed iseliminated.

It is contemplated that the container 36 be of the removable type and toprovide for this, a mounting-base 60 is disposed above the cylinder 34and secured within the casing 12 by suitable brackets 62. Angle gussets64 are provided at the corners of the frame 60 upon which the eornerposts of the container 36 seat. The guide flange 66 is adjustablysecured to the forward edge of the frame 60 and conforms generally tothe contour of the drum or cylinder 34. This flange is, of course, toassist in guiding an article 38 over the drum With its adjustability,the flange '66 can be set at diiferent distances fromthe face of thedrum to accommodate difierent sized article's,

To prevent the inadvertent release of two articles at one time, stopmembers 68 are adjustably secured to the forward portion of the frame 60on opposite sides of the flange 66 which stop members depend slightlybelow the bottom of the frame 60 to prevent the passage of more than onearticle at a time over the drum 34.

From the foregoing description, the construction and operation of theinvention are believed to be readily apparent. However, since numerousmodifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the artafter a consideration of the foregoing specification taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction shown and described. Thus, allsuitable modifications may be resorted to which fallwithin the scope ofthe appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In a vending machine for folded articles, a rotatable shaft, a drumfixedly mounted on said shaft, an article container having an outlet andmounted above said drum, said drum constituting a bottom for the forwardportiqn of said container and being in said outlet, guide plates mountedat the ends of said drum for rotation therewith, said guide plates beingdisposed on opposite sides of said container, guide blocks on saidplates having; transverse slots therethrough, fingers extending looselyand 'reciprocably through said guide slots for movement into and awayfrom said container, non-rotating cam plates mounted adjacent said guideplates, cam

tracks on said cam plates, means on said fingers en- 4- gaging said camtracks to move said fingers in response to relative motion between saidfingers and said cam plates, said tracks being shaped to swivel andreciprocate said fingers through said guide slots and into said outletof said container upon such point in the rotation of said shaft thatsaid' fingers enter said outlet to eject an article from the container.

2. In a vending machine for folded articles, a rotatable shaft, a drumfixedly mounted on said shaft, an article container having an. articleoutlet and mounted above said drum, said drum constituting a bottom forthe forward portion of said container, guide plates mounted at the endsof said drum for rotation therewith, said guide plates being disposed onopposite sides of said container, guide blocks on said plates havingtransverse slots therethrough, fingers extending loosely andreciprocably through said guide slots for movement into and a y f m a qainsr. en ent n amv P a mount a nt S id id Plates, m t k 1' d cam Pl te dmea .1 s d n r en n said cam tracks, said tracks each comprising aportion laterally inwardly offset toward its adjacent guide plate, saidlaterally ofiset portion being diagonally joined at its ends to theremaining portion of said track to swivel its related finger toward andaway from the container at the point in the rotation of the shaft thatsaid fingers enter said container outlet.

3. In a device for dispensing folded articles, support means, spaced camplates rigidly fixed to said support means, a shaft extending betweenand rotatably journaled on said cam plates, a cylinder fixedly mountedon said shaft, an article container disposed above said cylinder havinga substantially open bottom, a guide plate mounted on one end of saidcylinder, guide means on said guide plate, a finger reciprocably andswivelly mounted 'on said guide means, a cam track on said cam plate,cam followers on said finger engaging said track, said track beingshaped to swivel and reciprocate said finger toward and away from andinto the] open bottom of said container upon rotation of the shaft.

4. In a vending machine for folded articles, a rotatable shaft, a drumfixedly mounted on said shaft, an article container having an articleoutlet and mounted above said drum, said drum constituting a bottom forthe forward portion of said container, guide plates mounted at the ends.of said drum for rotation therewith, said guide plates being disposed onopposite sides of said container, guide blocks on said plates havingtransverse slots therethrough, fingers extending loosely andreciprocably through saidguide slots for movement into and away fromsaid container, non-rotating cam plates mounted adjacent said guideplates, cam tracks on said cam plates and means on said fingers engagingsaid cam tracks, said tracks each comprising a portion laterallyinwardly offset toward its adjacent guide plate, said laterally oflsetportion being diagonally joined at its ends to the remaining portion ofsaid track to swivel its related finger toward and away from thecontainer at the point in the rotation of the shaft that said fingersenter said container outlet, said guide plates being'of greater diameterthan said drum and constituting means to prevent sidewise movement of anarticle passing over the References Cited in the file of this patentUNITED STATES PATENTS 730,920 Joecken June 16, 1903 854,041 I Kenna May21, 1907 2,006,100 Hight et al. June 25, 1935 2,358,131 Nobles Sept. 12,1944. 2,521,237 Marvin Sept. 5, 1950

